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The legendary Bushmills Irish whiskey is made at the oldest distillery in the region, located next to the village of the same name in County Antrim.
The first drink was made here at the beginning of the 1608th century, namely in 1784. However, the date of foundation of the brand is considered to be XNUMX, when the company was officially registered.
One way or another, Bushmills whiskey boasts the oldest origin in the group of strong malt drinks in Ireland. It is not surprising that more than one hundred thousand tourists visit the local distillery every year, and there are many famous people among fans of the famous product.
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Bushmills whiskey history
The right to be called the founder of the enterprise belongs to the noble landowner Sir Thomas Philips, who in 1608 received a distillation license from King James Ⅰ. Whiskey was made in the region before, but it was officially started to be produced for the first time.
More than a century and a half later, the Old Bushmills Distillery trademark was registered and its alembic logo, which can still be seen on branded bottles today.
During the XNUMXth century, the company experienced many crises and difficulties, including a serious increase in the price of barley and a devastating fire.
However, these obstacles did not affect the quality of the product: the distillery was rebuilt and launched again. The result was a well-deserved recognition that came to the company in the 80s and 90s.
Bushmills malt whiskey won numerous awards in international competitions and received a gold medal at the 1889 Paris Exhibition.
Without much loss, the company survived the times of the American Prohibition.
It was more difficult during the war period, but the forced downtime was replaced by rapid development and growth in popularity in subsequent years.
In the 50s and 60s, the company expanded its sales markets and actively promoted its products in the United States.
Throughout the XNUMXth century, the brand has repeatedly flashed on the pages of literary works and in films. The most famous of them are the novel “Ulysses” and the drama “The Verdict”.
In 2008, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the distillery, her image was immortalized on banknotes issued by the Bank of Ireland.
Features of the production of whiskey Bushmills
The secret of the popularity of the Irish brand, of course, lies in the high quality of products and the preservation of ancient traditions.
Bushmills drinks are distinguished by a special soft and balanced taste with floral, fruity, caramel and honey notes.
The titled manufacturer is in no hurry to innovate and tries to stick to the old recipe.
The manufacturing technology of the legendary drink involves:
The list of blends includes grain and malt whiskeys, which are long-term aging in charred bourbon, sherry, port and Madeira casks.
The term of infusion and the choice of a certain type of vessel depends on the category of the drink.
The minimum exposure is 4-5 years.
Single malt whiskey is made from selected barley raw materials and spends at least 10 years in barrels.
To dry the malt, a special method is used without roasting on peat, which eliminates the smoky taste of the bouquet and allows the waste to be used for animal feed.
Fermentation of the must lasts about 60 hours. Distillation is performed three times, providing the product with softness and richness of shades.
The distillation apparatus has a slightly elongated shape. When replacing units, their outlines are exactly repeated, up to small dents and other design features.
After the last distillation, the alcohol strength is about 80%, then it is diluted to the desired degree.
An overview of the types and flavors of Bushmills whiskey
The Bushmills collection includes several types of high-quality single malt and blended whiskey:
Original
Classic 40% blend, which includes malt whiskey produced at the company’s own distillery, infused in sherry casks, and light grain distillate, aged in bourbon containers.
Taste: multifaceted, rich, warming, with notes of honey, malt and spices.
Suitable for solo use and in cocktails.
Red Bush
The youngest blend of the manufacturer, first released in 2017.
The whiskey is aged for 4 years in bourbon barrels.
Good both in pure form and in cocktails.
Bouquet: balanced, round, smooth, with woody, vanilla, nutmeg notes, honey aftertaste.
Black Bush
Blended whiskey aged in sherry casks.
The composition is dominated by the malt component, supplemented by a small amount of light grain distillates.
Taste: deep, smooth, full-bodied, with pronounced sweetness and fruitiness.
It is better to use it neat or with ice.
Single Malt 10 year
Triple distilled aged single malt.
10 years of maturation in bourbon barrels gives the drink honey, vanilla and chocolate shades.
The manufacturer recommends using it neat, on ice or slightly frozen.
Single Malt 16 year
Single malt made using a unique technology.
The drink goes through three cycles of aging in different types of barrels: sherry, bourbon and port.
The result is an unusual bouquet with notes of juicy fruits, nuts and spices, and the color acquires a ruby sheen.
Best enjoyed neat or paired with ice.
Single Malt 21 year
The single malt whiskey is aged for at least 19 years in sherry and bourbon casks, after which it spends 2 years in madeira casks.
The main achievement of the drink is the award “Best Irish Single Malt 2013”.
Deep, delicate bouquet combines aromas of dried fruits with hints of spices, malt, nuts and raisins.
How to spot fake Bushmills whiskey
The main protection of the Irish manufacturer from the distribution of counterfeit products is the original bottle. It must be present:
Engraved “1608” at the bottom of the front, consisting of clear, neatly applied numbers.
Company logo in the form of a distillation kettle and the signature “The Old Bushmills Distillery” on the right side of the container.
Original cork with logo on the top and triple “Bushmills Irish Whiskey” on the rim.
Pay attention to the word “Whiskey”: it should look exactly like this, and everywhere, not only on the lid.
Evenly glued, embossed label with high-quality applied, bright letters and numbers.
After studying the vessel, attention should be paid to the contents. The level of the drink should reach exactly to the neck.
The original whiskey does not contain sediment and impurities, its consistency is viscous and oily, the bubbles burst slowly when the bottle is shaken, and do not disappear immediately.
The price of a quality Irish product cannot be cheap, although the high cost does not guarantee authenticity.
It is better to buy status drinks in specialized stores, without haste, having previously read the certificate.
Relevance: 01.02.2019
Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Whiskey brands